In the nation&rsquo;s last undecided Senate race, national Republicans are coming to the aide of tea party favorite Joe Miller, and will ask supporters to help pay for his post-election legal fight against incumbent GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

Murkowski appears to be leading Miller by a wide margin in her write-in bid, but National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn will e-mail supporters Friday and urge them to make donations to Miller&rsquo;s campaign.

&ldquo;Joe Miller in Alaska is dedicated to the conservative principals we need in Washington DC. But he faces the potential of a lengthy recount. And in Alaska, they are still counting votes from election day. We need to get Joe the resources he needs to win the vote count,&rdquo; the Texas Republican says in the e-mail, asking recipients to make donations of $100, $75, $50 or even $25 to &ldquo;help ensure that this vote count is conducted fairly.&rdquo;

&ldquo;Both sides are beginning to lawyer up and prepare for any possible legal fights. Joe needs your help to make sure he has enough money to make it a fair contest,&rdquo; Cornyn adds in the e-mail.

Cornyn&rsquo;s pitch comes as Murkowski is ramping up her own post-election efforts, including setting up the Alaska Voter Defense Fund to help pay her legal expenses. Murkowski is expected to host a fundraiser for the group Monday. State officials will begin counting write-in ballots Wednesday and hope to finish the count Friday.

A drawn-out fight between two Republicans is the last thing GOP leaders want as they try to capitalize on Tuesday&rsquo;s massive electoral gains. But Cornyn finds himself in an exceedingly difficult position. Murkowski appears headed to victory at this point, and she is well-liked by her colleagues. But Miller is a favorite of the tea party and conservative activists, and the NRSC threw its weight behind him after he bested Murkowski during the state&rsquo;s primary.

Any appearance that Cornyn&rsquo;s support for Miller has softened would likely be taken as an affront by tea party activists, a group Republicans are trying to bring into the fold.